Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-06-18
PHILOSOPHY OF SLANG.
reiessor OF Belles.Lettress Gives 8 Reporter
. History OF the Use OF PICK wickiar Terms.


1.-THE every cay idioms of the Eng
fish language commonly called slang
are not so worthy OF unqualified con-
demnation as many prudish people
Suppose" observed professor Of
beIes-lettres 70 New York Mail and
Express reporter the other day.
'They have a direct fgurative signi6.
canoe and give scope to an inventive
fancy. For example. the expression
No. make me tired indicates to %
shade the feeling OF lassitude inflicted
by bore. Again, the phrase What
are YOU giving uss' is merely
a fiCurative way OF expressing incred'
ulity. Many snnguinary conflicts
have doubtless heen averied by its
esA AS the rugged, Synonymous phrase.
You are lying, sin hhs been sno@,i
to give Vtehse ~ Certain eccentric
pers"rs Sany Slang phrases axe the
embodiment OF polite spirit, When
You are out with the ho,H amhd exhlb-
it in meteorHc Clashes the slumbering
h''"ci9y in your nature, to be told
that 'yon are. Intoxicated strikes d
sensitive chord in tenr ttcSs,, out to
be accosted With What an elegant
load you have got" brings smile Of
assent and satisfaction to your
countenanc5 every time, Gentlemer
uereF acknowledge tn being drunk. IL
Is q .tlIl' or a Jag they have on.
The word drunk applies only to
tramps. They are Synonymous terms.
Every acute intellect will recognize this
subtle shade OF meaning. Gentlemen of
pugilistic procllvities are very careful
in their language. They appreciate
the modifying effects OF slangidioms,
and are particular to employ them in
speaking of their encounters. Who
ever heard d champion of the ring
say that lie gave his antagonist 4
black eye or a bloody hose? He, pre-
fers, in. a spirit Of chivalry., more
elegant terms, and will say that he
closed q pepper or tapped the claret''
Ii he knocks his opponent down he
will say CONSIDERABLY that he sent
him to grass If he gains q victory
ha will not injure the feelings
of the vanquished party by boast.
inn that he thrashed him, but
will pour balm upon his wounds by
stating politely that he done him up
THE parallel between slang phrases
and rugged English" continued the
professor, "may bedrawn still further.
No man is so devoid OF fine feeling as
to acknowledge that he has pawned
an article. IL Is less shocking to hint
with wink that his 'uhcle' has it. or
that it is in hook or even that he
mas hung it up These expressions
exhibit the, deed from a humorous
point OF view. In all walks of life We
find this same endeavor at politeness.
A thiefis called a fly man or crook
bride taker is called 'boodler', and
swindlers are called 'bunko steerers'
and 'sawdust men, This is as 1t
should he. The English language, de-
void OF its iigurative idioms, is simply
brutal. This accounts for the birth
Of the word dude It is far more
elegant than its synonym. fool The
ruthless small boy might hesitate at
the latter, but the former he can
shout out at the top OF his lungs
whenever so ne trihe OF humanity may
he blown across his patti. A slang
term that has peculiar Significance
is n 'chippy chaser This is
applied to the prosecutors OF hon
orable working girls. They stand
upon the street corners until some
pretty girls pass by, and then follow
them block after Block, talking in u
loud voice and otherwise annoying
them. 1t is gratifying to. know that
they are generally felt This last ex-
preston is applicable to those who
fail to attain the objects OF their de.
slres. The 'chippy chaser if success
ful in making the clandestine acquaint.
ance he seeks, and in making and APP
polntment for some future evening, is,
rs a rule. stood up This means, in
unvarnished En- .lish, that he stands
Tor hours at the appointed place
awaiting the arrival of the expected
female, probably in a violent rain or
snow storm, for a 'chippy chaser new
er gives up hope, while the honest girl
is possibly sleeping in her bed.
Here again the politeness Of slang
idioms is demonstrated. The syno-
nym of 'chippy chaser il the pitiable
word idiot which is rather an I'M
pleasant sounding term to be applied
to p young man. The inventor of
this idlom merits the hearty thanks
OF the Brotherhood.
ut is obvious" remarked the pro-
lessor in conclusion, from the forego-
ing exposition that our slang oricI-
mates from the innate delicacy of feeling
which is a characteristic OF Americans
from the small boy up. The English
Language, when plainly spoken, is
harsh and Earring and contains many
words. Mec ~ fine feeling
naturally express themselves in fig
\ O i,... a ho Lace cab rln,l.. IL.